Omission of cardiovascular risk modifying drugs in elderly patients admitted to a stroke unit
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i2.10835Keywords:
Elderly, Adverse Drug Reaction, Drug Prescriptions, Stroke, Cardiovascular DiseaseAbstract
Goals: To quantify and characterize prescribing omissions of cardiovascular risk management therapy using START (Screening Tool to Alert Doctors to the Right Treatment) criteria. Type of Study: Descriptive observational study Local: Stroke Unity of the Centro Hospitalar da Cova da Beira (CHCB). Population: Elderly patients (age =65 years) admitted with acute cardiovascular disease. Methods:Medical records from elderly patients admitted between October and December 2009 were consulted and the START criteria applied to data on prescribed medicines. Results: Our study included 56 elderly in-patients. We detected 63 prescribing omissions in 69,8% of these elderly (average of 1,19 omissions by patient), from which 74,5% (n=38) were corrected. Prescribing omissions were also detected in 80,9% of patients taking 5 or more medications simultaneously. In 10 patients, 13 omissions detected at hospital admission were not corrected and in 3 patients, 3 new prescribing omissions were detected. Conclusions: The prevalence of omission of evidence-based appropriate drug therapy in cardiac acutely-ill hospitalized elderly patients is high. START criteria are a useful instrument to validate essential drug therapy, particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease prevention.Downloads
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The authors will assign to the RPMGF the sole right to publish and distribute the content of the manuscript specified in this declaration via physical, electronic, broadcasting or any other medium that may come into existence. They also grant the RPMGF the right to use and exploit this manuscript, in particular by assigning, selling or licensing its content. This permission is permanent and takes effect from the moment the manuscript is submitted, has the maximum duration allowed by applicable Portuguese or international law and is of worldwide scope. The authors further declare that this assignment is made free of charge. If the RPMGF informs the authors that it is not going to publish their manuscript, the exclusive assignment of rights ceases forthwith.
The authors authorise the RPMGF (or any entity it may appoint) to act on their behalf when it believes that copyright may have been infringed.
